Hastening to Hastings

We had a splendid time by the sea in Sussex, oh, ever so long ago now. In between torrential squalls of rain, I took a few snaps of it's loveliness. Early July is already such a distant memory ...

Project Seaside Stripes

Lovely project for today, new covers and matching cushions for a pair of vintage deckchairs rescued by the Boy from our local junk shop.

Gorgeous stripy deckchair fabric from these lovely people, who included stripy sweeties in the package. And my goodness me, choosing colourways was difficult ... 

One false start where I thought I could staple the fabric to the frame using the Boy's seriously scary upholstery staple gun, but the trusty sewing machine was what I really needed.

Now we just need some more of this fantastic sunshine, and it'll be just like the seaside.

Blackpool Promenade, 1898 

Image uploaded to Flickr by trialsanderrors

Fourth of July - Rye, Sussex

Family get together in Sussex, in beautiful Rye. Lots of cobble stones and old houses drenched in roses and wisteria, sudden vistas of the marshes at the end of ancient narrow streets, smugglers' inns and fantastic handmade pork pies.

I strongly recommend a visit - and I'm in good company. The splendid Rob Ryan also has a soft spot for Rye.

[http://thisbutterflymind.blogspot.com]

Sunny Southend-on-Sea

A proper English seaside ... stripy deck-chairs, ice creams and chips.

[http://www.thisbutterflymind.blogspot.com]

Coast

The English seaside in March. Note the grey skies.

But, of course, complete with all necessary elements of childhood seaside holiday nostalgia:

And some rather lovely things too:

Yes, I've been experimenting with Picnik - I'll calm down now, promise!

[http://thisbutterflymind.blogspot.com]

Seaside wedding

Last weekend saw us at Wedding No. 1 of the summer, the wedding of my cousin and his lovely bride.

It was glorious, a touching church ceremony with gorgeous sacred music, and a proper knees up. They looked so happy.

I got to wear The Dress, and my handmade homemade fascinator, constructed from a vintage brooch, ribbon and feathers.











And we got to ride on a carousel!

Daytripping

This week, I have been a daytripper.

First, to the sea: craving sea air and the sound of gulls, we took the train to Whitstable on the Kent coast, for shingle beaches, weathered tongue and groove beach huts, oyster shells galore, and old fashioned pubs.

Oh, and icecream and chips, of course.

It was good for the soul.

Don't you love those blues and pinks? The colour palette is very satisfying:

Then to something more bucolic. A picnic at the Red House in Bexleyheath, where dizzy bees swam lazily among heavy apple tress.

The Red House was the home of William Morris, and is in the process of being restored (I think, there was certainly a lot of hammering going on): the mellow red stone is just beautiful, and the gardens homey and interesting. 

Love that "dusty grey" colour - shame about the prosaic name!

The house holds some real treasures, stained glass by Edward Burne-Jones, enormous faux medieval furniture by Philip Webb and embroidered tapestries by Janey Morris, but was overall a little disappointing - we had expected it to have more furniture, displayed in the usual National Trust style as if the family had just left the room.  And the William Morris Gallery in Walthamstow has much much more on Morris, Marshall, Faulkner & Co. despite Morris having lived at the Red House during its inception.

However, the building and grounds were just gorgeous, and a cuppa at nearby Danson House set us up no end.

Holidays rock!